Couple 'unhappily' pay 2012 tax

The couple said it should not be only Londoners that pay for the Games

An elderly couple who refused to pay an Olympics levy on their council tax bill have said they will "unhappily" pay the amount following a court ruling.

Tom and Rita Glenister, from Barnet, north London, had withheld £33.35 of their annual bill for two years.

They said all Britons and not just Londoners should pay towards the Games.

Hendon Magistrates' Court ordered the pensioners to pay £1,091.66, including £66 in arrears and the cost of bringing the case to the court.

If I had been single and had no hostages to fortune I might be prepared to go all the way to jail Rita Glenister

Following the ruling former probation officer Mrs Glenister, 74, who represented the couple, said: "That was predictable. They do not like putting pensioners in jail.

"I will unhappily pay this because I do not want it to affect my son in future years."

Addressing the court she said they have paid council tax for 52 years but this is their "first time in a criminal court".

Mr Glenister, a retired civil servant, added: "I support my wife."

'Easy target'

Mrs Glenister said: "At the end of the day I have faced Doodlebugs, the Third Reich, and terrorism, but when they say this could affect my son and his estate in future - I did not like that.

"If I had been single and had no hostages to fortune I might be prepared to go all the way to jail.

"We have been screwed and will continue to be screwed. We are an easy target and will continue to be an easy target."

The couple's son Tom, 46, said he was "proud" of his parents as they were "willing to stand up" for their principles.

A spokesman for Barnet Council said: "Part of the council tax is a Greater London Authority-levied precept to contribute towards the 2012 Olympics and this goes directly to the Greater London Authority.

"As the collecting authority, the council takes a strong approach to collecting any unpaid council tax and will use all available means to ensure that residents pay the full amount of council tax for which they are liable."